Case on militant nexus in NC Hills

Guwahati, May 22: Controversy surrounding allegations of politician-militant nexus in Assam's North Cachar Hills district took a serious turn, with the state government today claiming of having 'strong evidence' to indict at least three top leaders of the ruling autonomous council.

The government is keeping a close vigil over the NC Hills leaders and the police have been instructed to create a case against them based on the available evidence, Assam Government Spokesperson and Cabinet Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma said here today.

The NC Hills leaders, who face charges of maintaining links with militant outfits like NSCN(IM) and DHD(J), the latter being responsible for killing at least 25 people in the past week, were Deepolal Hojai, Prakanta Warisa and Mohet Hojai.

All members of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), which runs a coalition NC Hills Autonomous District Council (NCHADC) with the BJP, Deepolal Hjaoi is the Chief Executive Member (CEM), while the other two are Executive Members (EM).

Pointing at strong 'circumstantial evidence' to indict the trio, Dr Sharma exhibited a written 'contract' between the ASDC, signed by Warisa and NSCN(IM) 'Lt Gen VS Atem on April 1, 2006, wherein the political party had sought 'cooperation and help' from the militant group for contesting the Council election.

The minister pointed out that four senior Congress leaders were killed after the signing of the 'contract' in the run-up to the polls, while not a single ASDC candidate was even scratched by the militants.

Another evidence indicting the leaders was a judicial statement by arrested DHD(J) top gun Action Dimasa that the outfit had collected and stored ammunition at Deepolal Hojai's residence. Besides, mobile phones records of other arrested Dimasa militants showed daily phone calls with these leaders, Dr Sharma said.

In addition to regular police proceedings, the state government was ready for any judicial or CBI probe to expose politician-militant nexus in NC Hills, he said and urged the ASDC-BJP to express their willingness for such an enquiry.

The ASDC-BJP had been alleging that the Congress had close links with the DHD(J) and was instigating violence in NC Hills. Charging the NCHADC of financial irregularity, Dr Sharma said an enquiry would soon be constituted to look into the alleged unauthorized diversion of fund to the tune of Rs 10 crore in the district.

He also dismissed charges that NC Hills Congress leader GC Langthasa had sheltered DHD(J) chief Jewel Garlosa, adding that Mr Langthasa has lost two sons to militant bullets, his third son was kidnapped and all his family members had been attacked at various points of time.

UNI